Celebrating Thanksgiving American Style

Travel to New York for Thanksgiving !

You probably already know that Thanksgiving is almost as important as Christmas in the U.S. This loved national holiday is spent with close family and friends, celebrating gratitude to life's fortunes, on the fourth Thursday of November.

The history of the Thanksgiving holiday tells the story of the Pilgrims, originally Englishmen prosecuted for their religious belief, who immigrated to America in 1620, where they first had great difficulties, and many died during the first tough winter. However, with help from the American native americans, their first harvest went better than expected, and their luck had turned. They celebrated this with a harverst feast together with the native americans at the Plymouth plantation in 1621, a dinner that later became a legend.

Food is therefore the main ingredient in the Thanksgiving holiday tradition. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner today consists of a turkey with cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, plus a variety of side dishes such as sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and cornbread, or sweet corn. For dessert a variety of pies are served, like pumpkin pie, sweet potatoe pie and pecan pie, all considered classic American pies.

For those who can't cook, or perhaps the guestkitchen at the hostel you're staying at, doesn't allow this kind of excessive cooking, there is a very good alternative at the chain restaurant, Boston Market. Here you can buy the whole Thanksgiving buffet, take away, for under 10 US dollars! You can find Boston market establishments all over the States, but if it´s Thanksgiving - you should be in New York, of course, to see the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, just like you´ve seen it on TV, whenever Thanksgiving is portraited.

This traditional parade starts at 77th street and continues down through Colombus Circle to 34th street. Dress warm and join the other 2.5 million spectators to see the most spectacular holiday celebration in the States, with a line up of giant balloons, floats and fallons, celebrities and clown crews, marching bands and with the highlight of the arrival of Santa Claus, that starts off the Christmas season.

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is an 80 year old tradition that keeps entertaining both young and old through good times and bad times. Its orgin is European as it was invented by the employers at Macy's in the 1920's who were mostly first generation immigrants, who wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving with a march like they were used to with festivals in their home countries. The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, which is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, so you can take advantage of the sales through out the city!

Don´t miss the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Big Apple, find out your perfect hostel in New York, now!